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July 10, 2009 at 9:47 pm #591504
In2theknightMemberI’m going to be going to London (1st trip ever outside of US/Canada) next week. A friend told me that a cure for jet lag is…you’re gonna love this…Viagra. Doing some research, I came across a story on ABC News web site about this but it was only tested on hamsters (who knew they needed Viagra?!).
Anyway, does anyone have any insight or experience with this? I think my friend is just messing with me so I won’t be able to put the tray down on my flight when the food is served.
July 10, 2009 at 9:59 pm #671766
JustSarahParticipantLOL well, that would suck if it is a true cure for jet lag, since women aren’t technically supposed to take it. Not fair that men would get an out and women get, well, screwed (pun intended, but please pardon it.)
Anyway, best “cure” for jet lag, in my opinion, is sleep. Or no sleep. When my husband flew back from Tokyo he was awake for 36 hours straight (including his layover in Vancouver, B.C.) Then he just slept extra well the night he came back, and was back to normal fairly quickly! No Viagra involved.
July 10, 2009 at 10:02 pm #671767
christopherboffoliParticipantIn2theknight: If you consider how Viagra works (by influencing blood flow) it seems implausible. Things that make for compelling TV aren’t necessarily the best health information in the real world.
I’m not going to lie to you. Travel to Europe from the West Coast of the US can be taxing. You’re talking seven time zones. My advice would be to try to alter your sleep pattern to UK time in the days before you depart. Sleep on the plane if you can. Eat lightly on the flight. Avoid alcohol and coffee. Don’t forget to stay hydrated and take aspirin to prevent blood clots. Keep your schedule light for the first day of your trip there as you will be tired/groggy/grumpy.
I used to live/work in London. It is a marvelous city. If you’re going abroad for the first time I can’t imagine a better place to start. Have safe travels.
July 10, 2009 at 10:31 pm #671768
EmmyJaneParticipantWe just made this trip (well, to Paris.) We got into Paris at 9am Paris time and just stayed up as late as we possibly could that day (aim for at least 8 or 9pm.) It leaves you without sleep for about 28ish hours, but we didn’t have jet lag after that. If you’re flying on a plane “over night” then you can take sleeping pills and treat the plane sleep as your early “night.”
Coming back was much more difficult and took longer to adjust. Good luck.
July 10, 2009 at 10:37 pm #671769
mpentoParticipantI would be wary of messing with your blood flow and blood pressure etc. I take a trip over to europe pretty much every year. I find fasting and drinking plenty of water helps. Then if you can eat at your regular times and get out while the sun is shining. Save the viagra for when you need it.
July 10, 2009 at 11:28 pm #671770
WesCAddleMemberThe only true cure for jet lag is sleep and time. And booze.
July 10, 2009 at 11:39 pm #671771
IrukandjiParticipantAmbien.
July 11, 2009 at 1:00 am #671772
JayDeeParticipantBe sure to stock up on water once you are past Security. EPA studies show the water in the lavatory is nasty (and I used to drink this stuff). The airplane cabin is pressurized at 6,000 feet and that causes you to breathe out more water as vapor, hence increasing dehydration.
July 11, 2009 at 2:28 am #671773
christopherboffoliParticipantActually, yeah there is a Starbucks right there as you come down the ramp from Passport Control. So you can grab some agua, pick up your suitcases and head over to the Heathrow Express train to Piccadilly (my favorite method of getting from the airport to the City).
July 11, 2009 at 2:30 am #671774
AimParticipantXanax. LOTS of xanax. Then sleep through the flight and wake up happy and alert on the other side. Same concept as Ambien – as long as it’s >8 hours you’re good to go. And as the other person said, stay on “local hours” once you get there, and you’ll be ok.
July 11, 2009 at 2:40 am #671775
christopherboffoliParticipantMy only concern about the pharmaceutical recommendations is the real danger of blood clots, especially if you are sitting in coach. The decreased oxygen and reduced atmospheric pressure during high-altitude flight significantly increases the chances of dangerous blood clots. People who are more genetically prone to clots (or women taking oral birth control) can have an even more elevated risk. It might be a better idea to suck up a day of jet lag and spend the flight getting up every couple of hours to stretch.
July 11, 2009 at 2:31 pm #671776
CMPParticipantGo all natural and sleep most of the way. And when you arrive in London, force yourself into their local time. I slept most of the flight to Paris and on the way home with no problems and it was my first trip overseas. I don’t know why some people don’t adapt to the time change but I luckily don’t seem to have a problem with it.
A bit of advice about Ambien if you go that route…if you don’t regularly take prescription drugs, this might not be the best thing for you. I took one as the plane departed Cincinnati, not realizing you should try to fall asleep immediately. Not wanting to miss my “free” dinner and movies, I managed to stay awake a few hours and be highly entertaining to my travel companion since it made me a bit loopy. Needless to say, I felt much better returning to Seattle without the Ambien then when I went to Paris with it. But that’s just me. Sleep is the best thing for you. Bring a deflatable neck pillow from REI, they’re helpful on the plane. And have a great trip!
July 12, 2009 at 6:39 pm #671777
addParticipantWhen I fly to Europe on those evening flights, my preferred approach includes having dinner and a glass of wine and watching one movie (or reading) – awake for about 2 hours, then a Tylenol PM and try to sleep for the rest. Once landing, stay awake and alert until an early “normal” bedtime – say about 9-10pm. From there I am able to get on local time with no problem.
It’s a little harder coming back because the flights usually leave in the morning so it’s not as easy to fall asleep on the plane. But the same idea of getting back on local time as quickly as possible really does help!
July 13, 2009 at 4:01 pm #671778
squareeyesParticipantI’m a big proponent of No-Jet-Lag and have used it for close to 20 years. You can probably get it at SuperSupplements or any travel-related store.
http://www.nojetlag.com/jetlag7.html
Ingredients: Arnica Montana 30C (Leopard’s Bane), Bellis Perennis 30C (Daisy), Chamomilla 30C (Wild Chamomile), Ipecacuanha 30C (Ipecac), Lycopodium 30C (Clubmoss).
July 23, 2009 at 3:50 am #671779
In2theknightMemberThank you all for your suggestions. I just got back from London late last night. I turned out to be the absolute best vacation of my life…so far. While being worried about jet lag I didn’t take into account that I would be so excited about being there that I would have to force myself to sleep for at least a couple hours each day. Not even my best friend, Dramamine, kept my tired as soon as I got there. The receptionist at my hotel told me (when I took her out on Monday…man, I love European women) she thought it was funny that I just dropped my bags off when I got there and went right back out for the rest of the day…as opposed to most visitors get in their room and relax for a bit after the long flight.
Anyone that’s in need of a vacation like I was, if you haven’t been to London yet, I HIGHLY recommend it. And for the price and location, you can’t beat the Kensington Gardens Hotel. The room is small but since I only used it for a couple hours per day, it was well worth it. But if you go, just remember…the cute receptionist with the green eyes is mine!
July 23, 2009 at 5:13 am #671780
JanSParticipantyou devil ! ;-)
July 23, 2009 at 5:37 am #671781
HMC RichParticipantMy British wife considers it a compliment that you like European women. She says just remember the American male is just as exotic to the European or British woman. She once advised a friend of mine to hit any pub in England and just start talking. He would have new friends immediately. The scene in Milwaukee in LOVE ACTUALLY is somewhat close to reality. We stayed at that hotel you mentioned too. Remember when riding on the Tube, Mind The Gap.
July 23, 2009 at 4:18 pm #671782
In2theknightMemberJanS,
“devil”? Who, lil ol’ me? (as In2theknight smirks and bats his eyes)
HMC Rich,
I didn’t think I would ever get a recorded saying stuck in my head more than “Watch The Tram Car Please” on the Wildwood, NJ boardwalk. But I think “Mind The Gap” just took the title. Which is fine because that England accent is a bit sexier then the Jersey one.
Well, if your British wife has any British friends…tell ’em you know an “exotic” single guy on WSB.
I just put a hold on Love Actually at the library so I can check it out.
Cheers!
July 23, 2009 at 4:58 pm #671783
mpentoParticipantSounds like you didn’t need the viagra after all!
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